Significant carbon dioxide emissions in the Arctic Ocean are being caused by runoff from one of the biggest rivers in North America. Despite its small size, the world’s smallest ocean has a significant impact on climate change.
One of Earth’s most important carbon sinks, the Arctic’s frigid waters are thought to absorb up to 180 million metric tonnes of carbon annually, which is more than three times the amount of carbon that New York City emits. However, new research indicates that thawing permafrost and carbon-rich runoff from the Mackenzie River in Canada cause the Arctic Ocean to release more CO2 than it takes in.
The study, which was released earlier this year, looks at how researchers are utilising cutting-edge computer modelling to examine rivers like the Mackenzie, which empties into the Beaufort Sea, a section of the Arctic Ocean. The Mackenzie River and its delta, like many other Arctic regions, have experienced exceptionally high temperatures in recent years during all seasons, which has caused more waterways and landscapes to melt and thaw.
Thawing permafrost and carbon-rich runoff from Canada’s Mackenzie River is triggering part of the Arctic Ocean to release more carbon dioxide (CO2) than it absorbs, a NASA study has found.
The researchers from the US, Canada, and France discovered that the river discharge was causing the southeastern Beaufort Sea to experience such intense outgassing that it tipped the carbon balance, resulting in a net release of zero CO2.13 million metric tons per year—roughly equivalent to the annual emissions from 28,000 gasoline-powered cars. Seasonal variations in river discharge and the absence of sea ice to trap and conceal the gas caused a greater release of CO2 into the atmosphere during warmer months.
According to scientists, the Arctic has warmed at least three times as quickly as any other place on Earth since the 1970s, changing its waters and ecosystems. Some of these changes promote more CO2 outgassing in the region, while others lead to more CO2 being absorbed.
Because ocean waters continue to store up to 48 percent of the carbon created by burning fossil fuels, they continue to be a vital barrier against climate change, which is why scientists are monitoring changes in the Arctic and other regions.
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